Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Though the text calls them "thieves," the original Greek word used suggests they were more like violent bandits or rebels. This detail highlights how Jesus, the true King, was deliberately placed among the worst criminals to be shamed, fulfilling prophecy while revealing the utter injustice of the situation.
Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus is led to Golgotha, the soldiers fulfill the Roman custom of crucifying criminals, placing two robbers alongside him. This was done to further degrade Jesus, to make him appear as the worst offender among them and to fulfill prophetic declarations that he would be numbered with transgressors. The immediate context sets the scene for the taunts and mockery Jesus endures from the chief priests, scribes, elders, and passersby, who challenge him to save himself if he is truly the King of Israel.
Imagine the scene: Jesus, condemned and bleeding, is led to Golgotha. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by the worst society has to offer. Why was he placed between two robbers?
The crucifixion of Jesus wasn't just a historical event; it was a deeply symbolic act, fulfilling ancient prophecies and revealing God's profound plan.
The Weight of Sin
Jesus, who knew no sin, was deliberately placed among transgressors. The word used for 'thieves' often refers to violent outlaws, men guilty of robbery and murder, not mere petty criminals. By crucifying him between them, the authorities intended to cast the utmost shame upon Jesus, equating him with the vilest offenders. It was a political statement designed to crush any hope of his followers seeing him as a king.
God's Overruling Hand
While the human intention was reproach, God's purpose was redemption. This act, meant to demean, actually fulfilled prophecy. Isaiah 53:12 foretold that the Suffering Servant would be 'numbered with the transgressors.' God used the very actions of his enemies to demonstrate that Jesus was bearing the sin of the world, standing in the place of those who deserved to be numbered among such company.
The Cross of Choice
This placement wasn't accidental. It highlights the stark reality of the cross: no one comes to the Father except through Him who was numbered with sinners. Everyone who embraces the cross must acknowledge their own sinfulness and Christ's sacrifice on their behalf.
Ask a follow-up
We hear 'robbers' and think of a certain type of crime. But what does the original context suggest about these men, and why does it matter?
The label 'robbers' in the first century carried significant weight, especially in the context of Roman occupation and Jewish unrest.
Bandits and Rebels
These weren't just petty thieves; they were likely violent outlaws, perhaps even part of a larger movement against Roman rule. Some scholars suggest they might have been partners with Barabbas, a known insurrectionist. In the eyes of the Roman authorities, they were dangerous criminals. In the eyes of some Jewish nationalists, they might even have been seen as rebels fighting for freedom.
Jesus, the Ultimate Rebel?
The placement was strategic. By crucifying Jesus between these men, the authorities aimed to discredit him completely, portraying him as just another criminal or, worse, a ringleader of sedition. It was a powerful propaganda move to strip him of any perceived legitimacy and to dissuade any potential followers.
A Spectrum of Sinners
Ultimately, this detail underscores the radical inclusivity of the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t just for the religious or the respectable; it was for the outlaws, the condemned, the ones society deemed beyond hope. He died for all kinds of sinners.
Understand the original words
lēstēs · Greek Noun
Individuals involved in violent robbery or insurrection; often associated with bandits or revolutionaries. Their presence highlights the shame and social rejection intended by the crucifixion.
stauroō · Greek Verb
A method of capital punishment involving being nailed or tied to a wooden cross; it was the ultimate symbol of Roman state power, humiliation, and suffering, and for the believer, it is the instrument of Christ’s atoning work.
The crucifixion of Jesus alongside two robbers wasn't random; it was a deliberate act, possibly by Roman or Jewish authorities, to disgrace Jesus by associating him with common criminals and fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the suffering servant being numbered among transgressors.
c. AD 27-30
Roman occupation and unrest
Judea was under Roman rule, and tensions often ran high, leading to the presence of both Roman soldiers and local resistance groups, sometimes referred to as robbers or insurgents.
c. AD 27-30
Trial and condemnation of Jesus
Jesus was tried by the Jewish authorities and then by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who ultimately condemned him to crucifixion.
c. AD 27-30
Crucifixion of Barabbas
At the Passover festival, the custom was to release a prisoner. The crowd chose to free the notorious criminal Barabbas instead of Jesus.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus crucified between two robbers
Jesus was crucified along with two other condemned men, identified as robbers. This act fulfilled prophecy and served to further disgrace Jesus by associating him with common criminals.
This passage prophesies that the Suffering Servant would be counted among the transgressors, directly fulfilled by Jesus being crucified between two criminals.
Mark 15:27Mark also records the crucifixion of two robbers alongside Jesus, emphasizing how Jesus was identified with lawbreakers in his death.
Luke 23:32Luke adds the detail that the two criminals were also being led out to be put to death with Jesus, highlighting the communal judgment and the stark contrast of his innocence.
John 19:18John's Gospel specifies that Jesus was crucified between two individuals, one on each side, showing the spatial arrangement that fulfilled prophetic imagery.
henryMatthew 27:35-44: "And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots."
27:35-44 It was usual to put shame upon malefactors, by a writing to notify the crime for which they suffered. So they set up one over Christ's head. This they designed for his reproach, but God so overruled it, that even his accusation was to his honour. There were crucified wit…
clarkeMatthew 27:38: "Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left."
Two thieves - ΛῃϚαι, robbers, or cutthroats: men who had committed robbery and murder; for it does not appear that persons were crucified for robbery only. Thus was our Lord numbered (his name enrolled, placed as it were in the death warrant) with transgressors, according to the prophetic declaration, Isaiah 53:12 ; and the Jews placed him between these two, perhaps to intimate that…
Though the text calls them "thieves," the original Greek word used suggests they were more like violent bandits or rebels. This detail highlights how Jesus, the true King, was deliberately placed among the worst criminals to be shamed, fulfilling prophecy while revealing the utter injustice of the situation.
As Jesus is led to Golgotha, the soldiers fulfill the Roman custom of crucifying criminals, placing two robbers alongside him. This was done to further degrade Jesus, to make him appear as the worst offender among them and to fulfill prophetic declarations that he would be numbered with transgressors. The immediate context sets the scene for the taunts and mockery Jesus endures from the chief priests, scribes, elders, and passersby, who challenge him to save himself if he is truly the King of Israel.
As Jesus is led to Golgotha, the soldiers fulfill the Roman custom of crucifying criminals, placing two robbers alongside him. This was done to further degrade Jesus, to make him appear as the worst offender among them and to fulfill prophetic declarations that he would be numbered with transgressors. The immediate context sets the scene for the taunts and mockery Jesus endures from the chief priests, scribes, elders, and passersby, who challenge him to save himself if he is truly the King of Israel.
"Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left." — Though the text calls them "thieves," the original Greek word used suggests they were more like violent bandits or rebels. This detail highlights how Jesus, the true King, was deliberately placed amo…
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Last reviewed October 2026